Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria

Baba Gana Kolo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20

Research Article |

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Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria

Baba Gana Kolo^*

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 15, Issue 4)

Received: 25 June 2026 Accepted: 15 July 2026 Published: 24 August 2026

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Abstract

Many panels have been set up against corruption with numbers punished yet majority have not been deterred. In 2017, Nigeria’s indicator for the control of corruption was -1.068 indicating a deterioration in its control. In 2019 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) reported 43% of Nigerians believed that corrupt practices had increased in the preceding 12 months while 44% confessed paying a bribe. Nigerian Corruption Index (NCI) identified the persistence of Grand Corruption in Nigeria. For instance, Senate Public Accounts Committee recently demanded explanation for the ₦210 trillion queried by audit reports in NNPCL's audited accounts from the Former GCEO Mele Kyari who failed to appear before the Senate to defend the figures. The Former CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi also once alleged that $20 billion in oil revenue was unaccounted for, sparking massive National Assembly probes. Surprisingly, under President Goodluck Jonathan administration, then Minister of Petroleum (Diezani Alison-Madueke) and the NNPC filed suits to block the House of Representatives from probing a controversial ₦10 billion chartered aircraft scandal, citing constitutional limits on legislative powers. Section 7(2) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 identified its role to enforce anti-corruption laws. These include, the failed Bank (recovery of debt) and financial malpractices in Bank Act 1994, the Money Laundering Act 1995, the money laundering (provision) Act 2004 and so on. From the total of 240 surveyed respondents for the study, about 89% (majority) of the respondents observed that EFCC realized it’s set objectives only by less than 50%. Since its inception, the Commission investigated about 60 former governors with at least 35 of them being prosecuted as of 2026 but only very few were convicted. Among the convicts were Joshua Dariye (Plateau State), Jolly Nyame (Taraba State), and Lucky Igbinedion (Edo State). Some 94% (majority) believed that capital punishment could be suggested for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices. In view of that the study recommends death penalty for corruption to deter, prevent and control its perpetuation. Additionally, section 308 of the 1999 constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria providing prosecuting immunity to President, Vice President, Governors and their Deputies should be amended to ensure equality before the law in charging them to court whenever necessary while in office. Capitalism the mother of corruption must be replaced by socialism to establish a culture of respect for human dignity, equality and justice in Nigeria and globally.

Published in	Social Sciences (Volume 15, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20
Page(s)	242-256
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Corruption, Crime, Finance, Perception

1. Introduction

Corruption and financial crimes remain the biggest challenge encountered by all nations of the world. Corruption is the large scale crime committed by public officials in circles of government’s administration and there is no doubt it conditions government failures at all levels and prevents actualization of all forms of development. There is no doubt there are laws against corruption and corrupt practice contained in the colonial ordinances and Nigeria’s successive constitutions (as amended). Many panels and committees were set up to uncover corrupt criminal behaviors from authorities and numbers met with punishments, yet it has not deterred many other officials from repeating same acts at all levels.

It is upon these basic facts that this study was conducted using the criminological method of survey and factual observation to ascertain the performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as one of the mandatory agencies in the prevention and control of the crimes of corruption and related financial crimes in Nigeria with reference to the population of Jalingo Taraba state.

1.1. Corruption

The Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) constitution upholds a supremacy, that no law within the territory of Nigeria project itself as parallel to it and further established that all laws existing and enacted must confirm to it or treated as null and void. Chapter 1 of the constitution stated thus

[1]

Section 1 (1):

This Constitution is Supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the federal republic of Nigeria.

Section 3:

If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this Constitution shall prevail and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void.

As such any violation of the fundamental rights stipulated by chapter 4 section 33-46 of the 1999 Constitution is corruption and abuse of office if (particularly) committed by public office holders. These fundamental rights are including right to life, respect for dignity of a person (all degrading treatments including torture, slavery or forced labor), right to personal liberty (freedom of movement, decision etc), right to fair hearing within a reasonable time by a competent court with impartiality, and presumption of innocent until proven otherwise, right to privacy, right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (including freedom to change his religion or beliefs, teaching, practice and observance, right to freedom of expression (including freedom to hold opinions, receive and import ideas or opinions), right to hold peaceful assembly or association (including political party, trade union etc). Right to freely move within Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, without being expelled on entry or exit from at will. Right to be prevented from all forms of deprivation and discrimination due to location, ethnicity, sex, religion opinion or any circumstance of birth. Right to acquire moveable and immoveable properties anywhere within Nigeria. And section 46 of the chapter states thus:

Section 46 (1):

Any person who delegates that any of the provisions of this chapter has been, is being or likely to be contravened in any state in relation to him may apply to a High Court in that state for redress

[2]

Paradoxically, Nigeria is characterized by an apparent breach of this chapter with disgraceful impunity by public servants. There are records of extrajudicial killings particularly from law enforcement agents (including police, army etc). For instance, in June 2009 the whole of the town of BAMA was put to emergency curfew and brutally arrested over 300 people by members of the NPF. People innocently on their personal transactions were beaten up and thrown into trucks and taken to the CID headquarters in Maiduguri. Such pulled individuals were raided to Maiduguri and locked up till after 3 days before they were released on bail. No compensation for damage was promised by the NPF. At the same time Mohammed YUSUF the leader of the Boko Haram insurgents was criminally killed by the police after handed over by the military to the NPF for investigation on the 30^th August 2009. These are few examples of corrupt practice that are just taken for granted by the state and security agencies. Clearly corruption could be categorized into non-financial and financial. Both are abuse of office, economic crimes and disregard to constitutional obligations.

According to Kumolohadi and Budiharto (2014), the Transparency International, using Corruption Perception Index (CPI) on a range of 0-100 considering 0=as least corruption and 100=as peak in corruption measured number of countries in the world. These include, Indonesia (32), Malaysia (50), Brunei (60), Norway (86), Singapore (86), Finland (89), Sweden (89), Newzealand (91), Denmark (91). The Corruption Eradication Commission Office (CECO) of Indonesia’s report for cases between 2004-2013 showed, from a total of 391 persons involved 4 (1%) were Ambassadors, 7 (1.8%) were Commissioners, 9 (2.3%) were Governors, 9 (2.3%) were Ministers, 35 (9%) were Mayors/Deputy/Regent, 73 (19%) were Members of the Parliament, 90 (23%) were Members of Private Individuals, 114 (29%) were Echelon I, II, III and remaining 41 (10%) were other members of the general public

[3]

. The study in Pakistan also revealed that countries whose talented populations are denied participating in their economic engagements tend to grow more slowly. One unit change in corruption index lead to negative increase by -0.455 unit in economic growth”. Corruption leads to decline in economic growth and there is no development where there is no economic growth

[4]

The EFCC Act (2004) clearly outline that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud, money laundering and cybercrime. It was established in 2003, partially in response to pressure from Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which threatened to name Nigeria as one of the Non-Cooperative Countries (NCCT) in international community’s efforts to fight money laundering

[5]

The reports from Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (2020) also says in 2017, Nigeria’s indicator for the control of corruption was -1.068 (from the range of -2.5 =+2.5) revealing deterioration in control of corruption in Nigeria. In 2019 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) reports that 43% of Nigerians believed that incidents of corruption had increased in the preceding 12 months while 44% reported that they paid a bribe. Nigerian Corruption Index (NCI) categorically identified the persistence of Grand Corruption in Nigeria (Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria; 2020). The 2023 survey established that an estimated 87 million bribes were paid annually to public officials. The 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by Transparency International, similarly scored Nigeria 26 out of 100, ranking 142^nd out of 182 countries, indicating significant public sector corruption. In 2025 Nigeria was again ranked with a score of 26/100 indicating further high public sector corruption. There was 45% reporting of bribery acts leading to formal procedures. Approximately 5.1 bribes were paid on average per bribe-payer in 2023. Roughly US $1.26 billion or 35% of Nigeria’s GDP was paid in cash as bribes in 2023. About 56% of adults had contact with a public official demanding bribe in 2023 and 44% of public service users paid a bribe. Bribery is also higher in the rural areas (5.8 bribes per payer) compared to urban areas (4.5 bribes). Political parties, the Police, and the legislature are frequently ranked as the most corrupt institutions. Corruption cost the country billions of dollars annually, with embezzlement, contract fraud, and ghost workers in the public sector being prominent. In 2023 about 8.6% of the bribe payers reported their experience to an official institution, but in 2019 only 3.6% of bribe payers reported

[7]

About 32.24% of respondents from a study believed that corruption impedes the independence of the judiciary. These include fraud by litigants (7.35%), fraud by lawyers (8.9%), fraud by court staff/judges (9.32%). About 11.89% believed that non-compliance with court orders impedes the independency of the judiciary. Further revealed that the litigants that refuse to obey court orders include; Armed Forces (3.49%), Anti-corruption Agencies (6.48%), Legal practitioners (7.73%), MDA (19.20%), Law Enforcement Agencies (25.94%), Private citizens (institutions) (30.68%). About 33.38% and the majority of respondents believed intimidation of the judiciary by the executive are responsible for the impediment of the judicial independence. Most responsible for bribe in judgement situation are MDAs (7.37%), Judges (16.88%), Court staff (clerks, registrars) (21.54%), Litigants personally (21.96%), Lawyers (27.37%). The total amount of money reported by the justice sector respondents as corruptly demanded, offered and paid between 2018 and 2020 was #9, 457, 650, 000: 00k

[8]

1.2. Financial Crimes

The Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) constitution provided for the establishment of Auditor General in all states and the federation with specific responsibility of auditing. Section 125 of the 1999 constitution provided that there shall be Auditor General in all states and the federation to audit all accounts of agencies, ministries and departments of all levels for onward submission with recommendation for action by the national and state assemblies as applicable

[6]

Section 125:

[1]

There shall be an Auditor-General for each state who shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 126 of this constitution;

[4]

The Auditor-General for the state shall have power to conduct periodic checks of all government statutory corporations, commissions, authorities, agencies, including all persons and bodies established by a law of the House of the state.

Section 128 (2):

(a) The powers conferred on a House of Assembly under the provisions of this section are exercisable for the purpose of enabling the House to-

(b) expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it

[9]

The manifestation of corruption among the public servants shows that office of the Auditor-General has been compromised throughout the federation. For instance, Akubo (15^th July, 2026) reported scandal exhibited between NNPC and National Assembly summoning the former CEO/GMD NNPCL to explain Audit queries against the management of the company is a wonderful example of a role to be played by Auditor General in combatting corruption. The face-offs typically stem from audit queries, unexplained oil revenues, and multi-billion Dollar contract infractions, with lawmakers frequently clashing with NNPC leadership over accountability and defiance of legislative summons, centers on a massive financial discrepancy spanning 2017 to 2023. The Senate Public Accounts Committee flagged ₦210 trillion in unexplained accrued expenses and receivables in NNPCL's audited accounts. Former GCEO Mele Kyari and subsequent executives repeatedly failed to appear before the Senate to defend these figures, prompting heated debates in the National Assembly regarding whether to issue arrest warrants. The National Assembly routinely probes the NNPC over expenditures related to the maintenance and rehabilitation of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched investigations into the alleged misappropriation of $2.96 billion meant for the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries under former GCEO Mele Kyari. Audits submitted to the National Assembly by the Auditor-General have repeatedly accused NNPC subsidiaries of financial breaches, including weak internal controls and unremitted funds to the Federation Account. Historically, clashes over corruption have escalated to the point of litigation between the executive oil ministry and the legislative arm. Former CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi alleged that $20 billion in oil revenue was unaccounted for, sparking massive National Assembly probes. Under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the Minister of Petroleum (Diezani Alison-Madueke) and the NNPC filed fresh suits to block the House of Representatives from probing a controversial ₦10 billion chartered aircraft scandal, citing constitutional limits on legislative powers. Internal scandals within the corporation have often dragged the National Assembly into the fray. Former Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, released a leaked memo accusing former NNPC GMD Maikanti Baru of insubordination and sidelining the board. Kachikwu alleged that $10 billion in crude term contracts and $5 billion in DSDP contracts were awarded without due process or ministerial review. The friction between the two institutions persists because the National Assembly demands a transparent accounting of all public funds, while the NNPC has occasionally attempted to leverage its status under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to skirt legislative oversight

[10]

Similarly, the third schedule part 1, 1999 constitution federal republic of Nigeria constituted a body called “Code of Conduct Bureau” with chairman and other members

[8]

. The Bureau shall have power to-

Receive declaration by public officers made under paragraph 12 of part 1 of the 5^th schedule of the constitution;

Retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria in such terms and conditions as the national assembly may prescribe;

Ensure compliance with and where appropriate, enforce the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law relating thereto;

Receive compliant about non-compliance with or breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in relation thereto; investigate the complaint and, where appropriate refer such matters to the code of conduct tribunal;

The fifth schedule 1999 constitution, part 1, Code of Conduct for public officers, General

[3]

The President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Ministers of the government of the federation and commission of the government of the states, members of the National Assembly and the House of Assembly may by law, prescribe shall not maintain or operate a bank account in any country outside Nigeria;

[6]

[i] A public officer shall not ask for or accept property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything done or omitted to be by him in the discharge of his duties;

Provided that any gift or donation to a public officer or any public or ceremonial occasion shall be treated as a gift to the appropriate institution represented by the public officer and accordingly the mere acceptance or received of any such gift shall not be treated as a contravention of this provision. 11

[1]

Subject to the provisions of this constitution, every public officer shall within three months after the coming into force of this Code of Conduct or immediately after taking office and thereafter:

1) At the end of every four years; and

2) At the end of his term of office,

Submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all his properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.

[2]

Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorized in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be a breach of this Code. 15

[1]

There shall be established a tribunal to be known as Code of Conduct Tribunal which shall consist of a chairman and two other persons. 18

[1]

Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal finds a public officer guilty of contravention of any of the provisions of this Code it shall impose upon that officer any of the punishments specified under sub-paragraph

[2]

of this paragraph and such other punishments as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.

[2]

The punishment which the Code of Conduct Tribunal may impose shall include any of the following- [a] Vacation of office or seat in any legislative house as the case may be; [b] disqualification from membership of a legislative house and from the holding of any public office for a period not exceeding 10 years; and [c] Seizure and forfeiture to the state of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office.

[11]

For instance, Chima (2019) reported the scandal that brought chief justice of the federation under trial by CCT manifest element of equality under the law and corruption is not exception at the highest levels. The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) filed charges against the then-Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen in 2019 for alleged false asset declaration. This sparked massive controversy because the judiciary argued that only the NJC had the power to discipline or suspend a sitting judicial officer, raising constitutional questions about the CCT's jurisdiction. The Attorney-General of the Federation had on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made application to the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal on 11th day of January, 2019 to enable the Respondent commence trial for the offence of failure to submit all assets and liabilities contrary to Paragraph 15 (1) & (2) Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, and 11 (1) of the Fifth Schedule Part 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and punishable under paragraph 18 (1) and (2) of the same Constitution against the Honorable Mr. Justice W. S. Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON. The Application was accompanied with four copies of the charge and an Affidavit in support. On the same date the request of the complainant was granted. Part of the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which was signed by the Hon. Chairman and the two Honorable members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal reads: “And upon perusal of the summary of the evidence and or Affidavit in support, as well as accompanying charge, the Tribunal having been satisfied directs that the accused be summoned to appear before the Tribunal and plead to the accompanying charge against him”

[12]

. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ACT 2004, the agency is charged with the responsibility of executing the provisions of all laws and regulations that are related to economic and financial crimes. These laws as embedded in Section 7(2) of the Establishment Act 2004 include, the Money Laundering Act 1995, the money laundering (provision) Act 2004, the advance fee fraud and other related offences Act 1995, the failed Bank (recovery of debt) and financial malpractices in Bank Act 1994, the Banks and other financial institutions Act 2011, miscellaneous offences Act 1985, the Criminal Code and the Penal Code.

Section 46:

Economic and Financial Crimes means the non-violence criminal and illicit activity committed with the objectives of earning wealth illegally either individually or in a group or organized manner thereby violating existing legislation governing the economic activities of government and its administration and includes any form of fraud, narcotic, drug trafficking, money laundering, embezzlement, bribery, looting and any form of corrupt malpractices, illegal arms deal, smuggling, human trafficking and child labor, illegal oil bunkering and illegal mining, tax diversion, foreign exchange malpractices including counterfeiting of currency, theft of intellectual property and piracy, open market abuse, dumping of toxic waste and dumping of toxic waste and prohibited goods etc

[10]

Terrorism means: Any act which is violation of the Criminal Code or penal code and which may endanger the life, physical integrity of freedom of or causes serious injury or death to, any person, any number or group of persons or cause or may cause damage to public or property, natural resources, environment or cultural heritage and calculated to-[ii] disrupt any public servant, the delivery of any essential service to the public or to create a public emergency, or [iii] create general insurrection in a state: Section 8 (1): Any person who corruptly: Ask for, receives or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or for any other person; or benefit of any kind for himself or for any other person, is on account of [i] anything already done or omitted to be done, or for any favor or disfavor already shown to any person by himself in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any matter connected with the function, affairs or business of government department or institution in which is serving as an official, or [ii] anything to be afterwards done or omitted to be done, or any favor or disfavor to be afterwards shown to any person, by himself, in the discharge of his official duties or in relations to any such matter as aforesaid is guilty of an offence of official corruption and is liable to imprisonment for 7 years.

Section 9 (1):

Any person who corruptly- [a] gives, confers or procures, any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public officer or to, on or for any other person, or [b] promises or offers to give, confers, procures or attempt to procure any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public officer or any other person on account of any such act, omission, favor or disfavor to be done or shown by the public officer, is guilty of an offence of official corruption and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment to 7 years

[13]

From all above it is evident that a lot of legal strategies are on ground to fight economic and financial crimes in Nigeria. Why then Nigeria continue live with daily reports of corruption of the petty and grand level that obstruct our processes of development. To arrive at better answers number of criminological theories are considered relevant in empowering us critically diagnose the issue in proffering solutions.

2. Some Theoretical Consideration

Processes of personality development of individuals indicated that every individual possess specific properties either strong, moderate or weak. Such properties or personality traits are more often genetically derived. They are basic predisposition to think, feel and act. The sense of personal uniqueness comprising mixture of emotions and intellectual properties often manifest into characters such as honesty, courage, etc. According to them personality traits are inherent and universal. Thus, every individual has the same characteristics of different levels but manifest in individuals relatively permanently. Number of traits are exhibited through some behavioral indicators. The results are authoritarianism, neurotic tendencies, and attractiveness. Personality traits are hardly altered to a permanently new one. For instance, it has been observed that a sedentary nature of the individual can’t change the nature. Nature formation occurs throughout one’s life span. Nature can’t be separated from the context of the situation

[13]

Nature is nurtured and adaptation play significant role in the project of personality traits. If a community have long establish “honesty” as the discipline in military in the parades orderliness, similar sharp pattern of lifestyle is possible to be adopted by a community. According to them if people grew up in an environment that demands to be honest, it is understood that nature is what has always been the hope of interacting with others. Values, norms and customs are embedded in the family and the environment will be held as a true benchmark including direct ways of thinking, feeling and acting. Individuals who have been implanted by nature through nurture as anti-corrupt, when became the leader will demand the same thing for his other staff. Predominantly the power levels are often tested by events leading to temptations to be corrupt, harm the state, bribe giving or receiving for its benefit, extortion, fraud, cheating under secrecy etc.

Thus, to create a foundation of honest community for continued socialization is the contemporary challenge. This leads us to review Marxian historical analyses shaped by dialectical materialism and economic determinism. For Marx to set a peculiar honest community is impossible and dashed out by institutional evolvement in consequence to and determined by inevitably created unequal classes in human societies through history. Marx believed the possibility of existence of honest society devoid of classes at the beginning of human history describing it primitive communal society. All human beings were possibly honest as ownership has not been instituted. Nature was left operationally natural. The content of nature was just abundance for use and society not characterized by any struggle for domination. The day man started crafting institutions of comfort instead of using as it was available, man run into troubles of endless struggles that subsequently collapsed communalism and establish the principle of the mighty takes all and unequal classes evolved. Slavery mode of production broke out of primitive communal mode. Under slavery the mighty takes all as weaker one shy away for survival through service to the stronger ones. Since then honesty and sincerity were dashed out. There is sincerity in establishing exploitative relationship. Exploitation which was the highest form of corruption was established and institutionalized since slavery through feudalism to capitalism. Corruption was the order under unequalled societies for thousands of years. To create honest group, community, society is just impossible under unequalled mode of production according to Marx. Allport et-al’s perception that strong, resistant and anti-corrupt personality traits could be gingered by nurturing honesty to produce honestly natured individual is utopia under unequalled societies particularly the current capitalist dispensation. However, Marx believed and advised that the dishonest culture created by capitalist under domination will be overthrown through revolution when the victims gain consciousness of class interest and that according to them is inevitable. It’s upon this obvious fact the study adopts Marxism as its framework to analyze the results of public perception of performance of the EFCC in Jalingo Taraba state.

Clearly the provisions of the anti-corruption laws designated under the operation of ICPC, EFCC, CCB and CCT have not been successfully implemented as scheduled. Certainly it has been responsible for the sustained corrupt practices at all levels in Nigeria. Unfortunately mandates of those institutions have been over politicized and used more often for political victimization and predominantly applied to the weaker ones.

3. Perception of EFCC's Performance Against Corruption with Reference to the Population of Jalingo Taraba State

Descriptive statistics is used to present the results generated from survey data in Jalingo Local Government Area Taraba state. A sample size of 240 people used for the study using Self- administered questionnaire, face to face interview and factual observation as applicable. Jalingo is the capital of Taraba state and one of the local government areas under Taraba state. However, the perception of the public was cross examined by the perception of the officials of the EFCC from Abuja and Gombe zone. A total of 40 EFCC officials were involved in the study. The results are presents as follows.

Table 1. Distribution of Respondents by Whether There Is Difference Between Role of EFCC (on Paper) and Its Real Operation (in Practice).

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
There is difference	165 (67%)	35 (15%)	200	83
There is no difference	35 (15%)	5 (2%)	40	17
Total	200 (83)	40 (7)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Above table shows that 67% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that there is difference between EFCC’s role on paper and its real operation in practice. And 15% (and all) of respondents who are EFCC officials also agreed to same opinion. From the total respondents 83% (majority) observed that EFCC’s main role on paper differ with its real operation.

Table 2. Distribution of Respondents by Extent of EFCC’s Realization of Set Objectives.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
Less than 50%	160 (67%)	30 (13%)	190	79
50-59%	40 (17%)	3 (1%)	43	18
60-69%	-	2 (1%)	2	1
70-100		5 (2%)	5	2
Total	200 (83)	40 (7)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 2 above shows that 67% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that EFCC realised it’s set objectives by less than 50%. And 1% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials agreed to same opinion. From the total respondents 89% (majority) observed that EFCC realised it’s set objectives by less than 50%.

Table 3. Distribution of Respondents by Knowledge of Number of Former President Arrested by EFCC So Far.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
None	160 (67%)	40 (17%)	160	67
One	40 (17%)	-	40	17
2-5	-	-	-	-
6-10		-	-	-
11-12		-	-	-
Total	200 (83)	40 (7)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 3 above shows that 67% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that EFCC arrested none of a former since its inception. And 17% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials also believed that the commission arrested none of former president since inception. From the total respondents 67% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of former president since its inception.

Table 4. Distribution of Respondents by Number of Former Governors Arrested by EFCC So Far.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
None	160 (67%)	-	160	67
One	40 (17%)	-	40	17
2-10	-	40 (17%)	40	17
11-20		-	-	-
Above 20		-	-	-
Total	200 (83)	40 (17%)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 4 above shows that 67% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that EFCC arrested none of former governor since its inception. And 17% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials believed that the commission arrested between 2-10 former governors since inception. From the total respondents 67% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of former governors known to them since its inception.

Table 5. Distribution of Respondents by Knowledge of Number of Ministers Arrested by EFCC So Far.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
None	190 (79%)	-	190	79
One	10 (4%)	-	10	4
2-10	-	-	-	-
11-20		-	-	-
Above 20		40 (17%)	40	17
Total	200 (83)	40 (7)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 5 above shows that 79% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that EFCC arrested none of ministers since its inception. And 17% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials believed that the commission arrested above 20 ministers since inception. From the total respondents 79% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of ministers known to them since its inception.

Table 6. Distribution of Respondents by Knowledge of Number of Local Government Chairmen Arrested by EFCC So Far.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
None	-	-	-	-
One	30 (23%)	-	30	13
2-10	-	-	-	-
11-20	170 (71%)	-	170	71
Above 20		40 (17%)	40	17
Total	200 (83)	40 (7)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 6 above shows that 71% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that EFCC arrested 11-20 Local Government Chairmen since its inception. And 17% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials believed that the commission arrested above 20 Local Government Chairmen since inception. From the total respondents 71% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested above 20 Local Government Chairmen known to them since its inception.

Table 7. Distribution of Respondents by Knowledge of Number of Traditional Rulers Arrested by EFCC So Far.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
None	160 (67%)	-	160	67
One	40 (17%)	-	40	17
2-10	-	-	-	-
11-20		-	-	-
Above 20		40 (17%)	40	17
Total	200 (83)	40 (7)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 7 above shows that 67% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that EFCC arrested none from Nigeria’s traditional rulers since its inception. And 17% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials believed that the commission arrested above 20 traditional rulers since inception. From the total respondents 67% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of Nigeria’s traditional rulers and 17% said only one traditional ruler known to them have been arrested since its inception.

Table 8. Distribution of Respondents by Knowledge of Number of Traditional Rulers Perceived as Grand Patrons in Perpetuating Corruption.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
Strongly agreed	180 (75%)	38 (16%)	218	91
Agreed	10 (4%)	2 (1%)	12	5
Not Agreed	5 (2%)	-	5	2
Undecided	5 (2%)	-	5	2
Total	200 (83%)	40 (17%)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 8 above shows that 75% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that Nigeria’s traditional rulers are grand patrons in perpetuating corruption. And 16% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials also believed that the Nigeria’s traditional rulers are grand patrons in perpetuating corruption. From the total respondents 91% (majority) observed that Nigeria’s traditional rulers are grand patrons in perpetuating corruption and 2% disagreed such disturbing opinion.

Table 9. Distribution of Respondents by Opinion That Corrupt Authorities Hide Their Crimes with the Aide of Traditional Rulers.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
Strongly agreed	170 (71%)	35 (15%)	205	85
Agreed	10 (4%)	4 (2%)	14	6
Not agreed	10 (4%)	1 (0.4%)	11	5
Undecided	10 (4%)	-	10	4
Total	200 (83%)	40 (17%)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 9 above shows that 71% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo opined that corrupt authorities hide their crimes with the aid of Nigeria’s traditional rulers. And 35% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials also believed same. From the total respondents 85% (majority) observed that corrupt authorities hide their crimes with the aid of Nigeria’s traditional rulers and 5% disagreed such disturbing opinion.

Table 10. Distribution of Respondents by a Fact That Unjust Leadership of Government of the Day Affects the Performance of EFCC.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
Yes Negatively affecting	180 (75%)	35 (15%)	215	90
No there is no effect	20 (8%)	5 (2%)	25	10
Total	200 (83%)	40 (17%)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 10 above shows that 75% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo perceived that unjust leadership of government of day negatively affects the performance of EFCC. And 15% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials also believed same. From the total respondents 90% (majority) observed that unjust leadership of government of the day affects negatively the performance of EFCC and 10% believed that unjust leadership of government of day has no effect on the performance of EFCC.

Table 11. Distribution of Respondents by Whether Ruling Political Party Influence Negatively the Performance of EFCC.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
Yes Negatively affecting	180 (75%)	26 (11%)	206	86
No there is no effect	20 (8%)	14 (6%)	34	14
Total	200 (83%)	40 (17%)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 11 above shows that 75% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo ruling political party influence negatively the performance of EFCC. And 11% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials also believed same. From the total respondents 86% (majority) observed ruling political party influence negatively the performance of EFCC and 11% believed that ruling political party influence negatively the performance of EFCC.

Table 12. Distribution of Respondents by the Overall Assessment of EFCC in Terms of Performance.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
Zero	10 (4%)	-	10	4
Below average	100 (42%)	2 (1%)	102	43
Average	60 (25%)	3 (1%)	63	26
Good	20 (8%)	3 (1%)	23	10
Excellent	10 (4%)	1 (0.4%)	11	5
No response	-	31 (12%)	31	12
Total	200 (83%)	40 (17%)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 12 above shows that 42% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo believed they should assess the commission’s performance as below average. And 12% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials also believed that same. From the total respondents 43% (majority) observed they should assess the commission’s performance as below average and 26% believed they should assess the commission’s performance as average.

Table 13. Distribution of Respondents by Whether Capital Punishment Could Be Suggested for Corruption/Econmic/Financial Crimes in Nigeria.

Response	Members of the General Public (Jalingo)	EFCC officials	Frequency	%
Yes	170 (79%)	35 (15%)	225	94
No	10 (4%)	5 (2%)	15	6
Total	200 (83%)	40 (17%)	240	100

Source: Field Survey

Table 13 above shows that 79% (majority) of the respondents of members of the general public from Jalingo agreed that capital punishment could be suggested for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices. And 15% (majority) of respondents who are EFCC officials similarly agreed that capital punishment could be suggested for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices. From the total respondents 94% (majority) believed that capital punishment could be suggested for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices and only 6% from the total reported to have disagreed suggesting capital punishment for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices.

4. Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation

4.1. Discussion

From the total of 240 respondents, 83% (majority) observed that EFCC’s main role is to eradicate corruption. From the total, 83% (majority) observed that EFCC’s main role on paper differ with its real operation. From the total respondents, 63% (majority) observed that EFCC witch-hunts in reality. Some 89% (majority) observed that EFCC realized it’s set objectives by less than 50%. There is no doubt all organizations of government significantly play the same role, which including ensuring implementation of rules of law. This is further confirmed by several reporting as shown down.

The core functions of government agencies include maintaining law and order, providing public services, ensuring national security, managing the economy, and protecting individual rights. Despite identifying the roles of government organizations as effective implementation of due process, the realities on ground in all organizations proofs non-compliance to that effect. Organizations often fail to avail corrupt operators and abusers for action by EFCC

[12]

About 67% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of former president since its inception. Some 67% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of former governors known to them since its inception. From the total respondents 71% (majority) observed that EFCC suspected none of current governors known to them since its inception. Some 79% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of ministers known to them since its inception. Some 67% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of commissioners known to them since its inception. Some 71% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested above 20 Local Government Chairmen known to them since its inception. Some 67% (majority) observed that EFCC arrested none of Nigeria’s traditional rulers and 17% said only one traditional ruler known to them have been arrested since its inception. Some 83% (majority) observed that EFCC convicted none of Nigeria’s traditional rulers and 17% said only one traditional ruler known to them have been convicted since its inception. Some 91% (majority) observed that Nigeria’s traditional rulers are grand patrons in perpetuating corruption and 2% disagreed such disturbing opinion. Some 85% (majority) observed that corrupt authorities hide their crimes with the aid of Nigeria’s traditional rulers and 5% disagreed such disturbing opinion.

According to a report from Owoyele (18^th September, 20240) since its inception, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has investigated no fewer than 58 former governors and about 35 of them have been arrested and prosecuted for corruption and financial crimes as of 2026). Despite high number of arrests, securing convictions against governors has been difficult due to prolonged litigation and legal technicalities. Out of the dozens arrested and prosecuted, less than ten have been successfully convicted, with some of those convictions later pardoned. Notable historical convictions include Joshua Dariye (Plateau State), Jolly Nyame (Taraba State), and Lucky Igbinedion (Edo State)

[14]

Records indicate that dozens of former ministers have been investigated, arrested, or prosecuted for corruption-related offenses over the years. Saleh Mamman: Former Minister of Power, arrested by the EFCC for a multi-billion-naira diversion of funds. Sadiya Umar-Farouk: Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, investigated and grilled by the EFCC over alleged N37 billion fraud. Hadi Sirika: Former Minister of Aviation, investigated and tried by the EFCC for alleged abuse of office and contract fraud. Chris Ngige: Former Minister of Labour and Employment, taken into EFCC custody for questioning. Timipre Sylva: Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, declared wanted by the EFCC for alleged fraud. Olu Agunloye: Former Minister of Power, prosecuted by the EFCC over a $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract fraud. Pauline Tallen: Former Minister of Women's Affairs, invited and investigated over alleged financial fraud. Abubakar Malami: Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, investigated by the anti-graft agency regarding assets and financial dealings. Many cabinet members, particularly from the 1999–2007 era (e.g., during the Obasanjo administration), have faced arrests and trials by the anti-graft commission, though cases are handled individually across various Federal High Courts

[14]

From the total respondents 67% (majority) observed that suspects of EFCC are victims of circumstance and 17% believed that they are yet to be guilty of a crime. About 90% (majority) observed that unjust leadership of government of the day affects negatively the performance of EFCC and 10% believed that unjust leadership of government of day has no effect on the performance of EFCC. Some 86% (majority) observed ruling political party influence negatively the performance of EFCC and 11% believed that ruling political party influence negatively the performance of EFCC.

The performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is therefore significantly influenced by a com-bination of political, judicial, institutional, and socioeconomic factors. The ruling class sometimes dictates who is investigated, leading to accusations of selective justice. Appointing or protecting certain politically exposed persons (PEPs) hampers the commission's operational independence. Shifts in government administration often result in changes to the commission's leadership and priorities. Defense attorneys exploit legal loopholes and preliminary objections to drag out corruption cases for years. Citizens may withhold vital information due to fear of victimization or lack of robust protection policies. Despite its challenges the commission has equally claimed some positive outings. The commission’s Media and Publicity (27th October, 2025), reported that between October, 2023 and September 2025, EFCC received 19000 petitions, conducted 29, 240 investigations, filed 10,525 cases in court, and secured 7, 503 convictions. The commission also recovered ₦566,319,820,343.40, $411,566,192.32, £71,306.25, €182,877.10, and 1,502 non-monetary assets, comprising 402 properties in 2023, 975 in 2024, and 125 so far in 2025. “Among these recovered assets are two notable landmarks: the final forfeiture of 753 units of duplexes in Lokogoma, Abuja, and the forfeiture of Nok University, now the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State,”. He listed several high-profile cases prosecuted within the period, including those involving former governors Willie Obiano, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Darius Ishaku, Theodore Orji, and Yahaya Bello. Others are former ministers Olu Agunloye, Mamman Saleh, Hadi Sirika, Charles Ugwu, and former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.

Some 76% (majority) observed that the ways of avoiding oneself from collecting bribe is by rejecting offers and 24% believed that the ways of avoiding oneself from collecting bribe is by being contented, honest and just. Preventing yourself from collecting bribes requires establishing strict boundaries, operating with complete transparency, and building a strong personal and professional reputation. You can protect your integrity by utilizing professional safeguards and practicing assertive refusal skills to avoid corrupt situations entirely. Never accept "gifts" that might influence your decisions. Keep clear, written records of your daily decisions. Work openly so others can easily audit your choices. Insist that all transactions follow official, written rules.

From the total respondents 43% (majority) observed they should assess the commission’s performance as below average and 26% believed they should assess the commission’s performance as average. About 73% (majority) reported themselves as junior staff and 10% from the total as senior staff. Despite being the mother anti-corruption agency in Nigeria several EFCC officials have been arrested for violating the EFCC Acts as shown down. The EFCC dismissed 27 officers for various acts of corruption, fraud, and misconduct. The commission detained 10 Lagos-based operatives for the theft of operational items and bribery-related offenses. A deputy detective superintendent was arrested by the EFCC for allegedly collecting a $\text{N}15$ million bribe from a lawmaker under investigation. Operatives in the Maiduguri and Abuja zonal offices have been arrested for demanding money to compromise special investigations. The commission maintains an internal affairs and disciplinary unit to weed out rogue elements.

From the total respondents 93% (majority) believed that soft punishment is attached to corruption because it is a crime often committed by elites/rich/influential members of societies and only 7% from the total reported to have disagreed that soft punishment is attached to corruption because it is a crime often committed by elites/rich/influential members of societies. Some 94% (majority) believed that capital punishment could be suggested for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices and only 6% from the total reported to have disagreed suggesting capital punishment for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices.

In a compiled summary report of a summit Olorunfemi (2017) reported that number of scholars argued including Simović from the Centre for the Politics of Emancipation (CPE, Serbia) that corruption is not the result of individual misconduct but a structural relationship between political elites, domestic and foreign capital. It is not a deviation from the capitalist system, but an inherent and consistent feature of it. For the wealthy, it is a mechanism for further enrichment; for the poor, often a strategy for survival, both on the national and global level. Ruling parties in Serbia use corruption not only for enrichment but as a mechanism of political control. The public sector has become a client network in which employment depends on party loyalty (IMF). Institutions do not operate independently. Judicial and police systems are often misused for political purposes. Serbia also exists in a neocolonial relationship with global powers such as the US, EU, China, and the Gulf states. Foreign companies like receive subsidies, land, tax exemptions, and protection from labor laws.

The student-led movement in Serbia has not yet toppled the regime they protested against. The historic, decentralized uprising began in November 2024 following a deadly railway station collapse in Novi Sad. While they successfully forced several high-level resignations and shifted political momentum, President Aleksandar Vučić and the ruling coalition remain in power. The sustained pressure forced Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and the Mayor of Novi Sad to resign in January 2025. Students occupied over 80 university faculties and held massive, record-breaking demonstrations. The government retaliated with severe crowd management, including police force, mass arrests, and media smear campaigns. Because the government refused their core demands, students changed tactics to focus on running for upcoming parliamentary elections.

According to the Global Foundation Integrity (GFI), in terms of money fraudulently transferred out of the continent, Africa has lost about $854 billion between 2008 and 2016 with Nigeria alone accounting for $90 billion out of these. A major case is the $1.2 billion arms deal which was allegedly siphoned through the office of the former Chief Security Adviser, Ibrahim Dasuki. Also treasury looters are daily being exposed, tracked to specific politicians, mainly from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

According to Professor Mike Kwanashe, governments cannot succeed in fighting the corrupt system without re-introducing public welfare and a socialist method. The Structural Adjustment Program from the 1980s which destroyed the economy of sub-Saharan Africa also led to increased corruption. Elizabeth Donnelly and Dr Koni Hoffman also observed that without the transformation of society there can be no permanent solution to corruption.

To appropriately handle corruption a lot of discussions have been ongoing on the perpetrators should be punished. One of it is to kill actors. Supporters argue that the threat of capital punishment is the ultimate deterrent against stealing public funds. Proponents believe that grand corruption damages countries so severely—often leading to indirect loss of lives through poor healthcare or infrastructure—that it warrants a proportional punishment. As such immense public trust requires equally massive consequences for its abuse. Critics argue that executing individuals ignores the need to fix the actual systemic and institutional failures that allow corruption to thrive. Rather than capital punishment, many advocate for seizing all wealth and assets directly or indirectly linked to the corrupt activity. Imposing long, mandatory prison sentences for convicted officials. Banning offenders from ever holding public office or participating in government contracts again.

4.2. Conclusion

Clearly corruption has been identified as a systemic challenge inbuilt in the capitalist mode of production that more often being hegemonic character on global economic dispensation in the contemporaries. It has been observed categorically that the episodes in Serbia where he expressed that capitalism breeds corruption as a culture and has never been considered and treated as deviance rather a lubrication of government officials in partnership with international economic boosters and exploiters through using corruption in the political circle through adopted and implemented anti service policies and economic strategies that clearly manifest in profiteering global capitalist giants, companies and factories that are often contracted to provide capital intensive projects through ensuring cheapest labor and evacuation of all resources such as crude oil, lithium, uranium etc. at the expense of the population of the host communities and population.

After the transition to democracy from years of military dictatorship became realized in 1999, all the emerging politicians with very few exceptions could not provide substitute to capitalism and its associated challenges of perpetuating inequality, repressive tendencies against the subordinate class and subjugating them to abject poverty through corruptly but systematically designed strategies for implementation for the profiteering of imagine godfathers and exploitative partners.

Government businesses remained the same as provision of gigantic infrastructures such as rehabilitations of years of abandoned railway network that was built by the colonialist for transportation of mineral and agricultural resources for the development of the capitalist Europe, the provision of cheapest electricity power for execution of the mineral resources through awards of contracts for the revamping of hydroelectric power generation through dam construction as exemplified in the Gembu-Taraba multimillion dollar power project. The privatization of electricity generation, transmission and distribution to global partners anywhere or criminally seeping out of capitalist class to procure such facilities at expense of the CBN and related commercialization that manifested in the collapse of banks as a consequence of bad debt allocation and recoveries. The long term implication is vicious practice of dependency emanating from corrupt decision of the ruling class who are more often co-opted into the system of global capitalist class as bottom partners. That is the reason why Structural Adjustment Program was adopted as sold by Babangida’s godfathers (International Monetary Fund and World Bank) and the Tinubu criminal adoption of Fuel subsidy removal that escalated in reduced purchasing powers of the subordinate class and opened up provision for looting of funds by the ruling class with quite a number of them owning oil wells, modular refineries, foreign exchange markets, built up properties to profiteer from hotels, shipping lines, private jets etc.

This corrupt practice at the official top echelon level resulted in the youth protest of EndSARS, EndBadgovernance, with EndSARS controlled by proscribing. However, EndBadgovernance could not end the perceived bad regime as there was no military support for the masses from the strong hegemonic stakeholders. Tinubu’s government was not toppled just like Serbian authoritative regime protested against by the student union in 2024. Tinubu survived because subsidy removal is a capitalist enveloped anti-masses economic policy agenda from global capitalist empires to perpetuate economic exploitation and social victimization through poverty escalation among the lower class population. The capitalist ordered this because it promotes dependency and repression.

Corruption could not be eradicated under all capitalist economic orders and particularly in Nigeria where circles of dependent capitalism is perpetuated at all cost. Just as Simovic (2025) categorically stated that capitalism breeds culture of corruption. Bribe giving or taking, embezzlement of public funds, nepotism, undue loyalty to World Bank or International Monetary Fund and its imagined agents is believed by majority of the elites in Nigeria as lubrication to secure employment as state stakeholders and protection to stay in office since they are simply enslaved to cycle dependency, differentiate themselves from their poor grass-root affiliates and stupid them to feel bigger with criminal wealth. Corruption is the only easiest channel to be richer, powerful and prestigious under capitalism and its dependent capitalist economies. Few relatively non-corrupt leaders have always suffered and sometimes killed. For instance, Buhari, Murtala Mohammed etc. were examples and paradoxically perpetrators of capitalism and corruption such as Babangida, Tinubu, Jonathan, Obasanjo, Gowon etc. survived and lived longer in partnership and support from global partners manifested as incorporated capitalist elites.

Conclusively EFCC ideally empowered to eradicate corruption, economic and financial crimes but can’t operate as mandated under the dependent capitalist Nigeria. No wonder the population in Jalingo Taraba state of Nigeria concluded in their perception that the performance of the commission is below average.

4.3. Recommendation

1) There should be death penalty for corruption to deter, prevent and control its perpetuation.

2) There should be constitutional amendment to effect the erasing of section 308 and 309 of the 1999 constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria. To ensure equality before the law (as president, governors and their deputies can be taken to court for prosecution while occupying offices).

3) Enough remuneration must be paid to all workers to avoid temptations to indulge in corrupt practices in Nigeria.

4) Governments particularly at the local and state levels should prioritize agriculture production by embarking on large scale farming as government facilitate agro-allied industries to create jobs at all levels.

5) Youth should be educated about their fundamental rights to fight against corruption in Nigeria.

6) Capitalism as a mother agent for the perpetuation of economic and financial crimes must be replaced by socialism so that the culture of corruption is systematically switched into respect for human dignity, equality and justice in Nigeria and globally.

Abbreviations

EFCC	Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
ICPC	Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission
CCB	Code of Conduct Bureau
CCT	Code of Conduct Tribunal

Author Contributions

Baba Gana Kolo: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration

Conflicts of Interest

No conflict of interest expressed except the independent Marxian perspective employed to critically analyze the lopsided nature of dependent capitalist Nigeria.

References

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[2]	Allport, G. W., Cattell, R. B. and Eysenck, H. J. (1970). Pattern and growth in personality. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
[3]	Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria. (2020). Judicial integrity and corruption assessment report. Abuja, Nigeria.
[4]	Chima, P (2019) CASE SUMMARY OF: Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel v. The Federal Republic of Nigeria– CA COURT: Court of Appeal – CA/A/44C/2019.
[5]	Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. (2004). Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004. Federal Government of Nigeria. https://www.efcc.gov.ng/EstablishmentAct
[6]	Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) The 1999 Constitution (as amended) Federal Republic of Nigeria. Abuja.
[7]	Kumolohadi, R., & Budiharto, S. (2014). Corruption eradication and public accountability in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Governance Studies, 6(2), 45–61.
[8]	Media and Publicity (27^th October, 2025), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Recovers N566 billion, $411 billion, 1,502 properties in two years of Olukoyede’s leadership. https://efcc.gov.ng/news/efcc-recovers-566bn-411m-1502-properties-in-two-years-of-olukoyedes-leadership
[9]	Owoyele, T (18^th September, 20240) Table: 33 Ex-Governors-Like Yahaya Bello- Prosecuted for Corruption bhy EFCC. Foundation for Investigative Journalism. https://fij.ng/article/table-33-ex-governors-like-yahaya-bello-prosecuted-for-corruption-by-efcc/
[10]	Simovic, V. (2025, November 30). Corruption as a structural feature of capitalism. Transform! Europe. https://transform-network.net/blog/analysis/corruption-as-a-structural-feature-of-capitalism/
[11]	Olorunfemi, S (June 17, 2017), General Secretary of AUTOBATE reports the opinions of the national dialogue on the fight of the Buhari led government against corruption. Anti-Corruption: Neglecting a Socialist Alternative.
[12]	Shleifer, A., & Vishny, R. W. (1993). Corruption. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 108(3), 599–617.
[13]	Global Corruption Barometer T I. (2024). Corruption Perceptions Index 2024. Transparency International.
[14]	United Nations Office On Drugs and Crime. (2024). Corruption in Nigeria: Bribery and public sector corruption report. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

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Kolo, B. G. (2026). Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria. Social Sciences, 15(4), 242-256. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20

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Kolo, B. G. Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria. Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 242-256. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20

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Kolo BG. Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria. Soc Sci. 2026;15(4):242-256. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20,
  author = {Baba Gana Kolo},
  title = {Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {15},
  number = {4},
  pages = {242-256},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20261504.20},
  abstract = {Many panels have been set up against corruption with numbers punished yet majority have not been deterred. In 2017, Nigeria’s indicator for the control of corruption was -1.068 indicating a deterioration in its control. In 2019 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) reported 43% of Nigerians believed that corrupt practices had increased in the preceding 12 months while 44% confessed paying a bribe. Nigerian Corruption Index (NCI) identified the persistence of Grand Corruption in Nigeria. For instance, Senate Public Accounts Committee recently demanded explanation for the ₦210 trillion queried by audit reports in NNPCL's audited accounts from the Former GCEO Mele Kyari who failed to appear before the Senate to defend the figures. The Former CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi also once alleged that $20 billion in oil revenue was unaccounted for, sparking massive National Assembly probes. Surprisingly, under President Goodluck Jonathan administration, then Minister of Petroleum (Diezani Alison-Madueke) and the NNPC filed suits to block the House of Representatives from probing a controversial ₦10 billion chartered aircraft scandal, citing constitutional limits on legislative powers. Section 7(2) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 identified its role to enforce anti-corruption laws. These include, the failed Bank (recovery of debt) and financial malpractices in Bank Act 1994, the Money Laundering Act 1995, the money laundering (provision) Act 2004 and so on. From the total of 240 surveyed respondents for the study, about 89% (majority) of the respondents observed that EFCC realized it’s set objectives only by less than 50%. Since its inception, the Commission investigated about 60 former governors with at least 35 of them being prosecuted as of 2026 but only very few were convicted. Among the convicts were Joshua Dariye (Plateau State), Jolly Nyame (Taraba State), and Lucky Igbinedion (Edo State). Some 94% (majority) believed that capital punishment could be suggested for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices. In view of that the study recommends death penalty for corruption to deter, prevent and control its perpetuation. Additionally, section 308 of the 1999 constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria providing prosecuting immunity to President, Vice President, Governors and their Deputies should be amended to ensure equality before the law in charging them to court whenever necessary while in office. Capitalism the mother of corruption must be replaced by socialism to establish a culture of respect for human dignity, equality and justice in Nigeria and globally.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria
AU - Baba Gana Kolo
Y1 - 2026/08/24
PY - 2026
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20
DO - 10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20
T2 - Social Sciences
JF - Social Sciences
JO - Social Sciences
SP - 242
EP - 256
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2326-988X
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20
AB - Many panels have been set up against corruption with numbers punished yet majority have not been deterred. In 2017, Nigeria’s indicator for the control of corruption was -1.068 indicating a deterioration in its control. In 2019 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) reported 43% of Nigerians believed that corrupt practices had increased in the preceding 12 months while 44% confessed paying a bribe. Nigerian Corruption Index (NCI) identified the persistence of Grand Corruption in Nigeria. For instance, Senate Public Accounts Committee recently demanded explanation for the ₦210 trillion queried by audit reports in NNPCL's audited accounts from the Former GCEO Mele Kyari who failed to appear before the Senate to defend the figures. The Former CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi also once alleged that $20 billion in oil revenue was unaccounted for, sparking massive National Assembly probes. Surprisingly, under President Goodluck Jonathan administration, then Minister of Petroleum (Diezani Alison-Madueke) and the NNPC filed suits to block the House of Representatives from probing a controversial ₦10 billion chartered aircraft scandal, citing constitutional limits on legislative powers. Section 7(2) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 identified its role to enforce anti-corruption laws. These include, the failed Bank (recovery of debt) and financial malpractices in Bank Act 1994, the Money Laundering Act 1995, the money laundering (provision) Act 2004 and so on. From the total of 240 surveyed respondents for the study, about 89% (majority) of the respondents observed that EFCC realized it’s set objectives only by less than 50%. Since its inception, the Commission investigated about 60 former governors with at least 35 of them being prosecuted as of 2026 but only very few were convicted. Among the convicts were Joshua Dariye (Plateau State), Jolly Nyame (Taraba State), and Lucky Igbinedion (Edo State). Some 94% (majority) believed that capital punishment could be suggested for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices. In view of that the study recommends death penalty for corruption to deter, prevent and control its perpetuation. Additionally, section 308 of the 1999 constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria providing prosecuting immunity to President, Vice President, Governors and their Deputies should be amended to ensure equality before the law in charging them to court whenever necessary while in office. Capitalism the mother of corruption must be replaced by socialism to establish a culture of respect for human dignity, equality and justice in Nigeria and globally.
VL - 15
IS - 4
ER -

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Baba Gana Kolo

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

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http://orcid.org/0009-0006-0630-4955

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Kolo, B. G. (2026). Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria. Social Sciences, 15(4), 242-256. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20

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ACS Style

Kolo, B. G. Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria. Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 242-256. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20

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AMA Style

Kolo BG. Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria. Soc Sci. 2026;15(4):242-256. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20,
  author = {Baba Gana Kolo},
  title = {Corruption and Financial Crimes in Nigeria: A Perception of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Performance in Jalingo L.G.A. Taraba State Nigeria},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {15},
  number = {4},
  pages = {242-256},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261504.20},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20261504.20},
  abstract = {Many panels have been set up against corruption with numbers punished yet majority have not been deterred. In 2017, Nigeria’s indicator for the control of corruption was -1.068 indicating a deterioration in its control. In 2019 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) reported 43% of Nigerians believed that corrupt practices had increased in the preceding 12 months while 44% confessed paying a bribe. Nigerian Corruption Index (NCI) identified the persistence of Grand Corruption in Nigeria. For instance, Senate Public Accounts Committee recently demanded explanation for the ₦210 trillion queried by audit reports in NNPCL's audited accounts from the Former GCEO Mele Kyari who failed to appear before the Senate to defend the figures. The Former CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi also once alleged that $20 billion in oil revenue was unaccounted for, sparking massive National Assembly probes. Surprisingly, under President Goodluck Jonathan administration, then Minister of Petroleum (Diezani Alison-Madueke) and the NNPC filed suits to block the House of Representatives from probing a controversial ₦10 billion chartered aircraft scandal, citing constitutional limits on legislative powers. Section 7(2) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 identified its role to enforce anti-corruption laws. These include, the failed Bank (recovery of debt) and financial malpractices in Bank Act 1994, the Money Laundering Act 1995, the money laundering (provision) Act 2004 and so on. From the total of 240 surveyed respondents for the study, about 89% (majority) of the respondents observed that EFCC realized it’s set objectives only by less than 50%. Since its inception, the Commission investigated about 60 former governors with at least 35 of them being prosecuted as of 2026 but only very few were convicted. Among the convicts were Joshua Dariye (Plateau State), Jolly Nyame (Taraba State), and Lucky Igbinedion (Edo State). Some 94% (majority) believed that capital punishment could be suggested for corruption/economic/financial crimes in Nigeria if we are serious about tackling corrupt practices. In view of that the study recommends death penalty for corruption to deter, prevent and control its perpetuation. Additionally, section 308 of the 1999 constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria providing prosecuting immunity to President, Vice President, Governors and their Deputies should be amended to ensure equality before the law in charging them to court whenever necessary while in office. Capitalism the mother of corruption must be replaced by socialism to establish a culture of respect for human dignity, equality and justice in Nigeria and globally.},
 year = {2026}
}

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